i mean, reduced minutes

STEVIE'S BLUNDER
By MARC BERMAN

April 11, 2006 -- FRANCIS BLAMES POOR PLAY ON REDUCED MINUTES

INDIANAPOLIS - After Steve Francis committed another six turnovers last night and as his play continues to slide into the abyss, the Knicks guard's frustration boiled over following a 101-82 blowout loss to the Pacers at Conseco Field House that broke their three-game winning streak.

Francis said he's not to blame for his poor start as a Knick, saying his haphazard minutes are a major cause for his lousy play and sloppiness on the court. Francis also said he hopes management makes tough decisions this summer to reduce the five-man backcourt to a more manageable group.

"I'm not sure how many minutes I'm going to play any given night," Francis said. "There's not a guarantee I'll play 30 minutes, not a guarantee I'll play 11 minutes. So I've seen it all. Until I have that stability, that's why you see the up-and-down play. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but that's how it is."

The Knicks got a bit full of themselves last night after three straight wins and there was far too much smiling and joking around on the bench during the fourth quarter when the Pacers were blowing them out. The Knicks were outscored 49-36 in the second half and went eight minutes without a field goal during a 15-0 Pacers' run.

Even afterward, the losing locker room was appalling - filled with loud talk and laughter, as if they had won 14 straight games like their New Jersey cousins. The Knicks instead fell to 22-55 with five games left before this catastrophe of a season ends, still with a shot at posting their franchise's worst record for an 82-game schedule.

Adding to the lack of professionalism were Francis' misplaced comments; he refused to take responsibility for his woes, blaming it on everyone but himself. The Knicks are 7-17 since the Francis trade while his former team, Orlando, is surging and has re-entered the playoff race after winning seven of eight games. The Magic are 15-11 since getting rid of Francis.

"My career average; I've averaged 39 minutes," Francis said. "Of course, I've come nowhere close to that. In order to perform to my maximum level, I have to be able to be comfortable with the system and I have to have the minutes. Neither one of those things have happened. So I'm not concerned the way I'm playing. Things haven't been going our way as a team. Summer time, I have to evaluate which direction things are going to go."

The Knicks have a five-man backcourt group - Stephon Marbury, still injured; fast-emerging Jamal Crawford; rookie Nate Robinson; Quentin Richardson; and Francis. That's too many guys. Ironically, Francis and Marbury, the two-highest paid, most-acclaimed players, are in coach Larry Brown's doghouse.

Recently, Francis sat on the bench in the fourth quarter while Crawford and Robinson led the Knicks to three straight wins. Last night, Francis was removed for Robinson with 3:02 left after committing his sixth turnover, a bounce pass that was intercepted, and headed to the bench with a whimsical grin. Francis finished with 11 points and just three assists in 30 minutes.

Francis, who said last month he'd like to be traded if he's not starting next season, said the group of guards would be best off if pared down.

"Everyone has the skills and everybody wants to be out there," Francis said. "It's going to be tough for everybody to be happy playing 20, 21, 22 minutes. That will be tough man. Hopefully it won't have to come down to that."

Hopefully Francis, 29, will realize he has something to do with his Knicks slump too.

^ HA!

Guy makes Marbs look like the headiest PG ever.

Get used to this from Francis. He's not gonna accept whatever role he's given and play his heart out in any role like a good soldier would. He'll be a headache unless everything is done exactly his way. (Sound familiar?)

Posted by Allanfan20:

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo sick of the excuses. I'm not getting enough shots. I'm not getting enough minutes. LB is a d**k. Stop making fun of me, it's hurting my ego.

Get the heck rid of these players. The only guys I don't hear making excuses are the rookies, Jamal, Malik and Quentin. I'm still on the fence with woods. It's ugly.

I know all three rookies said that part of their problem was inconsistent playing time and undefined roles, Jamal bitched and moaned about not being a starter in the game opener after playing as a starter all pre-season. Woods complained about the number of set plays that were ran for him during a game, Malik hasn't complained at all, Q Rich would be an idiot to complain. Anytime your coach defends you tooth and nail after one of the sorriest seasons by a professional athlete (the man put up 0 pts 0 assist 0 stls 1 rb in 23 minutes against the Magic while Ariza put up 10 pts 7 rbs with 4 less mins for the Magic).

While quite a few knicks have complained about the unstable rotations and playing time, what really bothers me about Francis's comments is that he has NOTHING to back them up. When he DOES get minutes, he still plays like crap. I don't recall one good showing since he's been with us. Other players can say they had good games when given the time, but I have failed to see one game when Francis has been worthy. On a side note, I can't believe a guard with Francis's jumper and shooting form exists. Is it me, or is that the flatest shot ever? I've seen other players with bad forms and bad looking jumpers, (marion comes to mind among others), but at least they hit their shots. Craziness.

Posted by mattinNH:

While quite a few knicks have complained about the unstable rotations and playing time, what really bothers me about Francis's comments is that he has NOTHING to back them up. When he DOES get minutes, he still plays like crap. I don't recall one good showing since he's been with us. Other players can say they had good games when given the time, but I have failed to see one game when Francis has been worthy. On a side note, I can't believe a guard with Francis's jumper and shooting form exists. Is it me, or is that the flatest shot ever? I've seen other players with bad forms and bad looking jumpers, (marion comes to mind among others), but at least they hit their shots. Craziness.

I agree with that. Francis shouldn't say anything and let this thing ride out. I think it is hard for him to adjust from being an all star "the man playa" to a supporting role. On a winning team, I don't know how much he would complain. Just that on a losing team, it is a lot easier for these guys to say hey give me the ball more. With the exception of Lee, I don't know how many of these guys really want to give up the ball more (even Butler has been throwing up questionable shots). That is Thomas' fault for not acquiring more role players.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Get used to this from Francis. He's not gonna accept whatever role he's given and play his heart out in any role like a good soldier would. He'll be a headache unless everything is done exactly his way. (Sound familiar?)

you need lithium

I love it. It's not my fault. I don't need to get better. It's the coach, it's the rotations, it's Stephon, sun was in my eyes, wind was blowing, I'm sick, I'm waiting for my house to close, My child is sick, the dog ate my passing ability....................

Love our team.

Posted by Marv:

Posted by Bippity10:

I love it. It's not my fault. I don't need to get better. It's the coach, it's the rotations, it's Stephon, sun was in my eyes, wind was blowing, I'm sick, I'm waiting for my house to close, My child is sick, the dog ate my passing ability....................

Love our team.

i would trade our entire squad for the globetrotters right here right now no questions asked.

you know that way we get to keep big game too, right?

rofl. They'd be more entertaining at least!